A Hair Tonic from California that Really Works?

The FDA has agreed that Latisse helps eyelashes grow longer, thicker, and fuller.  That probably sounds great to my female readers, but what most guys are wondering is, "How will it work on my bald spot?"

I have a couple of female patients who have used Revitalash (containing the same active ingredient as Latisse--bimatoprost) on thinning hair with impressive results:  greater numbers of thicker hair follicles.  I'm still waiting for a male patient to give Revitalash (or Latisse) a try on his scalp.

While Revitalash has never received an FDA approval for any indication, Latisse can be marketed legally only for eyelash enhancement.  So, you probably won't be seeing advertisements for Latisse replacing those for Rogaine or Propecia.

However, if I were a manufacturer of one of these two products, I'd be nervous.  I'm already anxious for my colleagues that do hair plugs to treat male pattern baldness; they might soon be out of jobs!

Comments

[laser hair removal montclair]

Thank you for bringing up this its very informative let me know how will it work on my bald spot?

sphin

[cedric]

Hello Doc, I was wondering, now say one gets of the product, would not the hair that was made regenerated possibly in the scalp ( theory) fade away in the same way if someone were to get off the product for the eyelashes, the product is not a lasting solution.

[Michael Pickart]

Dear Cedric,

I think that you are correct. Allergans Lumigan/Latisse will not really correct the condition of baldness. The medication will hopefully justconvert some of that fine wispy peach fuzz into juvenile hair follicles. And these rejuvenated follicles will probably onlygrow so long as the patient uses the product.

I suspect that cessation of the Lumigan/Latisse will not immediately result in baldness. On the contrary, the hair will remain thicker for the lifespan of the exposed hair follicles. When those follicles are finally shed, then they will not remember that they should grow thicker and longer;they will revert to their pre-exposure status.

Regardless, I hope that baldness can become a chronic treatable condition, like hypertension or hypercholesterolemia. The pharmaceutical treatments of these disorders do not really cure the disorders; they just mitigate the effects (by lowering the blood pressure, by lowering the cholesterol, or by regrowing the hair follicles).

The concerned patient must usean expensive product forever. Should we all buy stock in Allergan?

Sincerely,
Michael C. Pickart, M.D., F.A.C.S.

To: info@pickartplasticsurgery.com
Subject: [Pickart Plastic Surgery Blog] cedric submitted a comment to A Hair Tonic from California that Really Works?
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 2010 10:36:00 -0800

[generic propecia]

vitamins will help lots, and panthenolic acid, biotin, niacin, silica (as this helps the absorbtion of the vitamins). Lots of exercise too to make sure the blood flows around your follicles (the part that feeds the hair under the skin). Sleep well as hair grows most when we sleep just like cell renewel happens when we sleep. Drink water to help flush out toxins etc

[Michael Pickart]

Cant say that I agree with you, generic propecia. While various vitamin deficiencies can result in hair loss, megadosages of those same vitamins have NEVER been demonstrated to promote hair growth. Certainly, clean living is always helpful, but, in the case of age-related hair loss, clean living is probably not enough.

Michael C. Pickart, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Pickart Plastic Surgery, Inc.

428 Poli St.,#2C, Ventura, CA 93001
(805) 648-4567 | fax (805) 641-0811

To: info@pickartplasticsurgery.com

[San Diego Plastic Surgery]

It appears that Bimatoprost extends the growth cycle of the eyelashes. This is in contrast to hormones that extend the resting phase of hair follicles during pregnancy (this causes pregnant women to have a fuller head of hair since it isn't falling out at its usual frequency). Both approaches lengthen the overall lifespan of each hair strand.

I'm guessing not a lot of guys want to take high levels of female hormones to keep their hair from falling out. So, Latisse (under a new, masculine brand name) might be the more appealing option.

D. McCarty